This morning I was turned away at the entrance to the Disneyland Resort and told I could not bring my dual-band HT into the parks. I had to trek all the way back to my car and leave it there. I was initially told it was because I could listen in on their park radios, but when my wife and I went to Guest Services to complain, we were shown a page right off their website saying the radio fell into the following, and this is a direct quote off their website: "Items that may be disruptive (e.g. laser pointers, slingshots, stink bombs, air horns)" When I asked them how it could be disruptive, I was told that it could be used to interfere with their in-park communications. I tried to explain that the radio wouldn't even transmit on their frequencies, they still said my radio was prohibited.

Now, I realize Disneyland and California Adventure are private property and it's their prerogative to prohibit whatever items they wish, but they're prohibiting ham radios for all the wrong reasons. Even if they were using analog business radios in the Land Mobile Service, there is no way my little Yaesu FT-60 could interfere with them. However, my research shows, according to Radio Reference, they use a Nextel PTT cell phone system with a 900mHz trunking system as a back-up. Their communications are way separated from the amateur bands.

To add to the annoyance, they are perfectly OK with FRS radios. AND... There is an active two meter repeater at 146.940 located WITHIN the confines of the Disneyland park. Kinda hypocritical, in my opinion...

Thanks to my Disney addicted wife, I was on the verge of Disney burnout and we had already agreed that we weren't renewing my annual pass next year, but this is the final straw. It will be a long, long time before I go back there.

When I asked them how it could be disruptive, I was told that it could be used to interfere with their in-park communications. I tried to explain that the radio wouldn't even transmit on their frequencies,

Maybe they're using illegal amateur HTs so that's why you might me able to interfere with them ...

1. How did they see the HT? Were they patting folks down pre-entrance? Last time I went,my VX-6R was in my pocket until I was inside the park ... and when inside, I used an earpiece so as not to disturb anyone ...

2. It IS a "private party," and you are subject to their rules and regs - no matter how bizarre they might be. So all your "arguments" are moot.

You sure have vented on a lot of messageboards ... Wish you had spent that energyenjoying the park, after performing just a little bit of research beforehand, where you would have discovered that taking a ham radio onto the premises has been problematic for many before you.

There are no "constitutional rights" nor "freedom of speech" valid arguments involved. You somehow drew attention to yourself, and were introduced to their rules first-hand.

Yes, I know it's their park and they make the rules, and I probably wouldn't have made such an issue about it, but their reasoning is full of holes. Plus, they've lumped the radios into the category of "disruptive devices" which makes it impossible to find any information about the prohibition before hand.

As to how they found the radio, it was on my belt in plain sight when I went through the bag check. I never though anything as innocuous as an HT would be prohibited. I've never had any issues with it anywhere else I've taken it.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that many ham HT's have been "opened up," meaning they can be used on frequencies outside the ham band(s). It is quite possible that they have had a problem in the past.

"Opening" an FRS radio and most other HT's is a big more problematic.

As for complaining to corporate headquarters, good luck with that! Corporate headquarters is the one who made the rules.

One final thing. EVERY corporate headquarters has an extremely qualified secretary who specializes in complaints such as these. She has a 50gal. cross-cut shredder beside her desk driven by a 25HP 440V motor!

Why do they even have a ham radio repeater in the park if hams can't use it, or can they ? So Disneyland gets to have it's name on a repeater list? Is the Disneyland Resort different than Disneyland Park? Or is it one and the same?

So go somewhere else. It is THEIR rules. You either comply, or go to Magic Mountain.

>> ... but there's a repeater on site ...

Most ridiculous thread in months ... Whining about being "caught" with his ham HT, and he needs someone to blame. Might be a case of "social engineering" - since I and many others can walk into the park and use ham HTs, but the original poster couldn't even get in the front gates.

Thanks to my Disney addicted wife, I was on the verge of Disney burnout and we had already agreed that we weren't renewing my annual pass next year, but this is the final straw. It will be a long, long time before I go back there.

I'm glad you have a good excuse now.

Seriously, though, after spending God-knows-what per hour on being in "the Magic Kingdom," my few remaining wishes would NOT include a QSO. If disaster struck while I'm there, a good lawsuit should take care of it.

'tis said Uncle Walt always ruled and protected his virtual property with an iron hand

Oh, he's still keeping an eye on all the day-to-day operational issues. They've got his head, alive, in a glass jar, underneath the "it's a small world" ride, and he watches the security monitors most of the day. And after the park closes, he uses a remote video link to preside over the Knights Templar's grand council meetings in Geneva.

--ken (can you tell I'm still bitter about that "no long hair" business?)

I wouldn't go to Disneyland anyway. This is just another reason why they can go screw themselves. But they don't care about me, and I don't care about them. So we're even. If they went belly up financially, I still wouldn't give a damn.....

Most ridiculous thread in months ... Whining about being "caught" with his ham HT, and he needs someone to blame.

Ridiculous.

It's a very good thing that he challenge the rule. Just because the rule exists doesn't mean it's logical or rational. So what if they can make the rules? If it's a dumb rule it's best to challenge it. If it's based on misunderstanding or bias then he should be commended for challenging the rule.

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